By William Lloyd: Conor Benn says he’s ready to fight for a world title in his next time out against WBA welterweight champion Yordenis Ugas if the match can be arranged.
The 25-year-old Benn (20-0, 13 KOs) doesn’t want to wait for two more learning fights before challenging for a world title, as his promoter Eddie Hearn suggests.
Conor looked incredible last Saturday night in destroying former WBO 140lb champion Chris Algieri (25-4, 9 KOs) by a fourth round knockout at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, England.
After three rounds, Benn caught up with Algieri in the fourth round and knocked him cold with a right hand to the head.
Algieri was entirely out after Benn hit him with a scorching right hand to the head, causing him to topple over in a lifeless way. It was scary to watch, and thankfully, Algieri was okay afterward.
If Benn can’t get a world title shot against Ugas (27-4, 12 KOs), he’d like to face Kell Brook (39-3, 27 KOs) after dispatching Amir Khan in their long-awaited fight on February 19th.
Benn says his record compares with Jaron Ennis’
“I’m just ready for who’s next. That’s sort of my mindset,” said Conor Benn to Behind The Gloves. “I’m just ready to take on better challenges.
“No,” said Benn when asked if Chris Algieri is the best fighter he’s faced as a professional. “Each fighter presents different struggles. I found [Sebasian] Formella quite tricky, but I’ll find an answer for whatever questions that they bring,” said Conor.
“There will always be critics; that’s just classic fighting talk. ‘He is where he is because of his dad [Nigel Benn] and has a padded record.’
“If you look at my record in comparison to Jaron Ennis or who David Avanesyan was fighting. Look at their records,” said Benn. “And look at David Avanesyan was fighting at my stage in my career and age.
“Look at Jaron Ennis. So when you talk about padded records just because I’m under the spotlight, which is fine. I’ll beat who they put in front of me,” Benn said.
It’s a waste of time for Benn to be worried about the critics right now because the stuff that they’re saying goes with the territory.
Being the son of the world-famous Nigel Benn, Conor has been under a microscope from boxing fans from day one. Naturally, they’re going to compare Benn to his father Nigel and give him loads of grief.
Jaron Ennis and David Avanesyan haven’t had the same ridiculous pressure on them from day one in the pro ranks, so they’ve been free to take as many learning fights as they needed to develop.
Conor: ‘Adrien Broner won’t take the fight’
“I’ve brought up loads of names to him, and it’s his job to try and get them made,” said Benn when asked if his promoter Eddie Hearn was the one that suggested that he fight Adrien Broner next.
“Adrien Broner won’t take the fight. Amir Khan didn’t, and Kell Brook didn’t. So I leave it to them [Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing to select his opponents]. I beat who they put in front of me, and that’s fine.
“If it gets me closer to a world title or a big fight, I would love it any day of the week. I’ll have it next. I’m ranked top five in almost every governing body,” said Benn when told that Hearn said he wants him to have two more fights before challenging for a world title in 2022.
“I’ll have that next. It doesn’t bother me if you put Ugas in front of me. I love that fight; and I relish that fight. I like Ugas; he’s a quality guy, he and his family. I’d love that fight,” said Conor.
I think it’s time to holla at EH
— Adrien Broner (@AdrienBroner) December 7, 2021
It’s difficult to believe that Broner, 32, doesn’t want to fight Benn because it’s probably his best chance for a nice payday.
Benn might be right about Broner not wanting to fight him because he’s been retweeting many of Danny Garcia’s posts on Twitter recently, and that would seem like a great fight for American boxing fans for Showtime.
With the negative feedback that Benn has received from boxing fans since Hearn started mentioning Broner’s name as a possible next opponent, it would be better if he let his promoter know that he should choose someone else.
Benn wants Kell Brook
“That’s a 50-50 fight; I’d take the pair of them,” said Benn when asked who he’d prefer to fight between Amir Khan and Kell Brook. “I’d probably like the Brook fight over the Khan fight, but it really is a 50-50 fight.
“I believe it would be a tougher test, I really do,” said Conor about Brook being the tougher fight for him over Khan. “I believe it would be a harder fight, but if they won’t take it, it’s more like wishful thinking.
“Kell Brook don’t want to fight me. I heard him say, ‘If it makes sense, it makes sense.’ Well, it don’t make sense, especially after tonight. Unfortunately, yes, but that’s part of the job,” said Benn when asked if he scared Brook away with his fourth round knockout win over Chris Algieri last Saturday.
“Probably after Christmas,” said Conor on when he’ll start training for his next fight. “I’ll still be training now but March or April,” said Benn.
Former IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook (39-3, 27 KOs) would be an excellent option for Benn’s next fight in 2022.
Unfortunately, Brook, 35, is scheduled to face Amir Khan in a 12 round pay-per-view fight on February 19th at the Manchester Arena in Manchester, England.
Even if Brook wins that fight, he likely won’t be ready to fight again until June or July of 2022, and that’s too long of a time for Benn to be waiting before he gets back in the ring again.
If Benn and Brook are to fight next year, it’ll have to be in the second half of 2022. That’ll be an excellent business-level fight for Conor, but not one that will help him develop much.
Although Brook is still quite powerful, he’s lost a lot from his game due to age, inactivity, injuries, and ring wear.
